Non-Lethal Training Rounds (Simunition) Vs Airsoft - The Pros and Cons with Navy SEAL "Coch"

Retired Navy SEAL, Mark "Coch" Cochiolo, talks about the pros and cons when using non-lethal training rounds (specifically Simunition) and airsoft.
Placing yourself in realistic scenarios where you have to engage role-players is the best training you can get. To get the most out of these scenarios, it's important to use the right training tools.
Using real firearms converted to shoot non-lethal training rounds or airsoft are two popular options.
*Do not try out the test conducted in this video. "Coch" and our 'intern' are highly trained professionals with years of experience.
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#tacticalhyve #airsoft #navyseals

[@mariorossi9300]

took a simunition round once on my lower leg during a civilian force on force cqc class with the local swat team, hurt like a motherf...er for 3 days!

[@TacticalGearReview]

Well... The more you get the more you start to like it 😂👍😂😂😂

[@joshpointoh]

@@TacticalGearReview That's definitely true for tattoos

[@eatyourcereal7353]

Not sure if it's 3 days bad but definitely hurts! I did the same thing with our SWAT, they lit me up.

[@gregbailleul8828]

USAF SERE here, I used Airsoft for my guys during Evasion training. They would actually evade properly because they did not want to get lit up by airsoft. It also helped in allowing the aircrew to help identify friend from foe during contacts.

[@darylobey8867]

The best tactics is everyone knows the game plan no real time limit but we make sure after an hr the game started that enemy forces get "board" and when there comfy and we all know thay are then we attack take out at least half there numbers and disapear come back to new spot quick to get them off guard again or lure them out of a home base in to the open or bush and shot the guys hunting us :) lots of fun but lots of thinking to but it hones skills to play serious and then we just shot eachother up for fun later on

[@dangoldnerd]

Dude deserves a raise, or at least a sandwich 😁

[@Bourne246]

And a stiff drink hehe

[@TacticalGearReview]

and a beer!

[@Moneynis]

😭💀💀

[@markuswilliams2944]

What about a donut 🍩?

[@MrHeuvaladao]

Your demands were answered. From now on, we are paying him the double we payed before. Here, we hear you.

[@eddietat95]

There are also realistic paintball replicas out there that shoot both paint and rubber balls. The model selection and mag capacity is very limited, though. A Glock 17 Gen5 replica, for example, only holds 8 rounds. They're also more expensive than airsoft, but still less expensive and more available than Simunition.

[@mrwayne5158]

So far Airsoft co2 pistols are the best option. I just bought a sig p320 co2 airsoft for training that shoots 405fps with .25bbs for cqb training.

[@raindoll9877]

@@mrwayne5158 They're not really. Look for HDP 50 pistol for example.

[@longiusaescius2537]

@raindoll9877 paintball marker?

[@ichallengemydog]

Take a like for the intern!

[@taisey4512]

*unpaid intern

[@TheDollarSportsman]

I’ve used airsoft replicas to train new shooters, which was a great way to get them comfortable with the safety and use of guns. Force on force is effective at close distances, but beyond 10 yards the point of aim shift gets to be significant. Still, though, it is an excellent t way to train, especially when teaching cqb, home defense, etc.

[@Devlchiken8]

Also it really helps to teach standard gun safety and barrel management. If they didn’t like a pellet they wouldn’t like a bullet

[@pg234forreal]

I laughed so hard at this. Being able to shoot interns is the hallmark of any good company!

[@checkmate058]

Airsoft guns explained. On a gass blow back airsoft gun such as that pistol. The slide or bolt works similar to a ar15 bolt. Gas released by the knocker valve on the back of the magazine struck by a hammer vents up inside the bolt propelling the bolt backwards while also propelling the pellet down the barrel. Because a airsoft gun is driven by that valve, majority of potential issues are magazine or valve centric. Online guides fully explain preventive maintenance and mag filling best practices for longterm mag life. If you have skills to replace a kitchen faucet change an oil filter, you have have knowledge of o rings, gaskets and greasing moveing things, airsoft repairs are nothing to worry about.

[@outdooradventuretrainingsy6009]

I train regularly with sim-rounds (we use UTM) and boy do those leave a mark at close range - "Unpaid Intern" deserves a bonus for sure!

[@philyarnell8386]

Our ability to chuckle at our buddies discomfort is powered by the love for our buddies. well done

[@markwatters6875]

Bugger the science, your chuckling after shooting the intern with the sim unit ion made the show. Thanks for the video mate 👍🇦🇺

[@DJNitreBlue]

We ran our SimFX through berettas and as long as you cleaned them daily they were pretty damn accurate. 40-50 feet accurate, 4in is a lot of drop for just 30ft.

I think airsoft replicas (if they're accurate enough) can be a good way to practice draws/reloads and or general maneuvering

[@danlenson4297]

Glad ya touched on this, for sure Got a chipped front tooth playin' milsim airsoft ... it's got some punch to it

[@iamfogo]

Some airsoft guns have an adjustable hop up to put more back spin on the BB so it won't have as much drop.

[@darylobey8867]

I got a maxx hop with a maple leaf super silicon 70 dagree bucking and my hop is bearly adjusted betwe 1 and 2 on the dile for how " low" that setting is its got range for a 285mm or .95 inch short barrel and up close it hurts and am only running .25 bbs

[@Guido_XL]

Yes, hop-up is a factor, but only at a larger range. I don't think that at a distance of less than 30 feet, it makes much difference. I have several Desert Eagle airsoft guns, both green gas, CO2, and electric. The CO2 version is the snappiest of them all, the electric the most reliable, and the green gas the most impressive (loud!). Accuracy and grouping depend on the quality of the hop-up unit, the inner barrel, and how well both are fitted to one another. I can shoot pretty accurately with the GBB Deagles at 30 feet, but it took some training to cement muscle memory and intuition. Lots of training.

[@mrwayne5158]

Keep in mind your using Green gas in your airsoft pistol. That drops the velocity, accuracy & force. Co2 is the best option & gives alot more. Also there are different weights of airsoft bbs. Airsoft is only good for cqb training. Obviously simunition will hurt more & probably be more better, however, Airsoft is more cost effective & can be just as useful with certain things exempt from the tads of Realism that simunition will offer

[@antonw-uw4ov]

I remember fx/simunition from a pistol being so inaccurate that we told our company commander that blanks and a laser sensor would have been better since the simunition was pointless past 5 meters. The spread at 30m would be about 4 meters. Might have been that the kits we got was worn but it was ridiculous.

[@boguslav9502]

Sińce youve used simunition ive been wondering. Its a soap round with a plastics buffer. At least from what ive seen. Meaning its damn complex for what IT is and its gonna leave residue. I thought od working on a proprietsry round thst is basically a Hilti round for the power charge and a chalk bullet thst is guided by a wad. You think thisnconcept Has any merit?

[@RileyNewcomb]

But shootings blanks at close range could still severely hurt someone

[@genehanna3977]

This was a good one! Oh the Intern. Get em rook!

[@Vex916T]

6:42 I'm pretty sure that's former US Navy Seals Dorr talking here haha

[@Goldenwithaleash]

I bought a replica Glock 19 airsoft pistol when the pandemic popped to practice in the backyard when everything was closed. I found it beneficial enough to continue do use it a few times a week along with dry fire. It’s no substitute for hitting the range but it does help some. And hell, it’s easy and pretty fun.

[@mariebee3146]

Would it work in a self defense?

[@Jeremy-by6pg]

@@mariebee3146 No. 380 in a handgun is the smallest recognized as a effective defense round. Check out the glock 42, Smith and Wesson Ez in 380. Our look up on KZbin good 380 pistol for new shooters. And watch a couple videos on how to hold and a handle a pistol. Maybe even go to a gun range/ gun store and ask for help. Most people who own guns love to help people with guns.

[@KnightSaverz2012]

Old man, I don't think you could have handled those shots. But your dummy is a trooper. Great job.

[@PMoney365]

I think Coch enjoyed that... just a hunch.

[@redzone1019]

Give that man a job and a beer for taking one for the team! Appreciate your sacrifice. (Your back that is!) Lol! Seriously, great job bro! Good review. Stay safe and healthy. Peace

[@justincoe4338]

Coch: this was inconclusive, i think we need another test Unpaid intern: *Sweats profusely*

[@ARGAR_GAMES]

I like this Coch guy! I would love his divers watch collection/gear review.

[@darklyripley6138]

Airsoft is an amazing way of training force on force. Milsim can also help you learn tactics, communication, ect. I’d say they’re more reliable than sims. Especially if you have a decked out, upgraded airsoft gun.

[@3nertia]

The problem is that those nice Airsoft guns cost as much as a real f#@&ing gun!

[@revengeof1307]

@@3nertia yea cus they have way more moving parts and tech def why they cost just as much and more

[@kamenneikoo7854]

@@3nertia Only reason a real gun costs more than an airsoft is the Metal used. It has to be a high quality pressure safe which requires expensive tooling. Airsoft guns are more complicated but way uses cheaper tooling and materials

[@thelonercoder5816]

@@3nertia it's still cheaper in the longrun when you compare the cost of sim bullets to pellets/bbs for co2 guns. Even these sim-rounds are significantly more expensive than bbs/pellets lmao. A box of 50 simrounds will run you $40. Meanwhile you can get good bbs/pellets (box of 200+) for only $5-15. All that money you'd spend on simrounds could go to a good replica airsoft gun and you'd still have a ton of money leftover.

[@thelonercoder5816]

@Xoey Marshall can confirm. I have good replicas and it's funny seeing people complain about spending $100-300 on a good replica airsoft gun when the real things are like 5-10x more expensive lol

[@TheJackOfAllTrades82]

I took on the full wrath of the M249 SAW loaded with sim rounds in a small room. It was my 1st time as a team leader clearing out MOUT city in Ft Bragg NC. I had The Godfather of the E4 mafia unload on us, even though we tagged him first and cleared the room. He just held his finger down, until I kicked the barrel. We were covered in welts.

[@NightWarp]

alright.. things to keep in mind... green gas airsoft like what was used dont shoot very hard.. 330..350fps... now if you use a co2.. you can go to 450 fps.. much harder. That would have been a better test. With that said, still dont think it would have as much mass/impact as simunition of course.

[@boguslav9502]

Imo the force ofninoact, pain, and ability to Mark your target are what hołd airsoft back from becoming a sport and keep it a hobby and airsoft guns toys

[@thelonercoder5816]

prob not much mass but it's def better on your wallet, in the longrun. But I feel like alot of people underestimate the power of airsoft/airguns. Alot of people use cheap junk and haven't bought any real good $50+ airgun replica lol.

[@sebastiancanaday5820]

Coach giggling every time he shot Dorr. 🤣

[@tylerhassey5210]

I’ve done a lot of live round training as well as a lot of airsoft, airsoft is great for getting comfortable with reloads and getting quicker shots on target but the accuracy definitely leaves something to be desired, I’ve shot guys behind cover just because the wind was on my side that day and the bbs are very light, with that being said, I definitely condone using airsoft guns to get quicker with reloads and getting on target quicker

[@scaleworksRC]

Working on getting an Airsoft version of my carry gun to train around the house. I didn't know they hit that hard though. Yeouch!

[@pepelepede2743]

Marine Security Guard School uses paintball simulation rounds, no changing barrels necessary.... used on M9, M16A2, M4, and the Remington 870. Used at FBI's Hogan's Alley for clearing drills... and the occasional High Noon Duel.

[@brandonihde4879]

I've always used airsoft. Thanks for the video

[@tannersires9734]

I wish somebody would create a airsoft range type of place using this sim rounds. I’ve played a few airsoft games it fun but the range is terrible. These would give people a better experience and great civilians training.

[@pinkyfish64]

You can't help but like Coch. There is always a twinkle in the eye and a smile on the lips and you know he not only has the tee-shirt but wears it proudly. Being in the UK where guns are taboo I would be interested in Coch's opinion on the effectiveness of the Umarex TFE range such as the HDR of less lethal options? Lots of videos but non that I know of from a true Professional.

[@trancamortal]

The airsoft guns have a "Hop up" adjustment to Compensate for drop.

[@dmoose7066]

Sims will never be as cost effective as airsoft. Even if all you have to do a barrel swap, Sims cost somewhere between .50-1.00 a round (last time I looked, if you have better numbers please correct me). Airsoft is usually .0028 a round (depends on weight and brand of course). When I've done Sims with LE between everyone shooting your looking at 100s of round a day. Just the ammo cost alone will cover getting airsoft set up and running. From a reliability standpoint airsoft jams way less then Sims do with the proper maintenance on both. Just need to know how to take care of your stuff. All in all pretty good video, glad people are finally realizing the training value airsoft has to offer!

[@aqualust5016]

Dude's been doing cupping therapy and you just restarted his healing process lol

[@tysonen5973]

bro the ef88 simunition i got shot by like 2months ago the marks are still there, got lit up in urban training was in some pain after taking 4 hits just below my pc

[@Joelproctor84]

You better start paying that intern lol always great content

[@csmlouis]

Such a weird way of auditioning to be a Tactical Hyve team guy. That or they are doing the corporate trust-fall exercise but someone had confused Coch with the trainer...

[@victormaxwell1919]

My three brothers and I used to have BB gun wars, that shit hurts

[@MrDwaynePoff]

What I wanna do when my daughter gets of dating age to every single "friend" she brings home...😂😂

[@player2-Red-]

This is good a idea ❤‍🔥

[@MustPassTruck]

Simunitions are fun. Doing room clearing when with a pistol when the trainers are using full auto rifles on you is fun lol.

[@Matt-Durham]

Hello sir, just an FYI the airsoft magazine has a weight inside it that you can remove if it's too heavy.

[@schwazman1]

Easily one of my favorite videos you guys have done.

[@un_cog9677]

🐸🐸

[@practicallysocial]

Try UTM rounds. The "bullets" are gas cartridges, plastic projectile (not 9mm) loaded in your Glock, Sig, M&P mag. You can buy the conversion/simple slide change. Used them in scenarios and they rock. Also in airsoft there are rules for engagement. Under 10 ft you say "Bang." Otherwise someone might punch you in the face for breaking their skin with a 6mm/400 fps round. "I ain't got time to bleed" you say. Used both for students, prefer UTM.

[@IronDavid25]

Could you expand on what you like about UTM over airsoft? Currently trying to decide between the two for training with the boys.

[@floriangramsch9036]

3:51 Ok did you adjust the hop up? The big drop at this distance is very unusual and occurres if it isn’t adjusted correctly

[@DarkWolfWRX]

Im going to assume they did not. It seems like they got an airsoft gun and just went for it. I can say with the variety of guns and upgrades welts vary wildly. Ive got a few on me right now that are worse that the Simunations from games over the weekend haha. But this was a cool video regardless, though I tend to enjoy watching people volunteer for an experiment like this haha.

[@justoneman1681]

I still have scars from sim rounds. I renew then fairly often

[@twentyfifthdui4717]

Can't decide if this scene was cut from Reno911 or Pulp Fiction.

[@ronkeegan5238]

I took a Simunition round to my collarbone. I had a bruise for a couple of weeks!

[@LowkeyYosh]

I love the transition from very informative and serious too amazing interesting science 👏 xD

[@rent2386]

this specific test was so unnecessary lol i love it

[@SNOwyte]

I member someone telling me 'no theres a huge difference between airsoft/paintball and simunitions, simunitions hurt MUCH more' but have never seen them work til now

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Simunitions is a very affective training aid, I still have a scar on my left hand - from 17 years ago!!

[@timothybarber9849]

Lol. I laughed to hard at this. I got my thumb nail blown off by a sim round...not the best day ever. 😆🤙🏴

[@flyboy8752]

Oh man, I cringed when I saw him taking a sim round shirtless! At least you don’t use the .223 sims… Those are brutal, even with shirt & hoodie!

[@jordanfrancisco27]

Coch, are you rocking Altama Maritimes? Cool vid and love the content.

[@acorgiwithacrown467]

I've never heard of lips being sheered off airsoft mags except with really really cheap airsoft guns, like sub 20 euro. A Hi-capa costs like 170 euro and will last for a very long time reliably.

[@StrollaLawDefense]

Moral to the story, never be an unpaid intern! The giggles after each shit are the best part of this entire video.

[@gabiballetje]

Oh man, he hated his job that day. I mean airsoft can be painful enough, but simunition, that is no joke for sure XD

[@PJ_Perry]

I'll never forget as a boot ass marine in SOI I seen simunition on the ground I asked the Sgt what it was he told me to stick out my hand I did he shot me point Blank in my hand an I learned to stop asking questions 🤣🤣

[@HeckerAirsoft]

With that airsoft gun try using it with a new hop rubber and barrel also for more hitting power you can use more powerful gas like black gas and heavier pellets like 0.3 and up it should leave a bigger welt and also will be more accurate at longer distances as the wind or other factors won't affect it much

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

I like how he shot him on "2" lmao

[@JamesStakerWin]

Nerfed real bullets vs Plastic BBs.

[@kdawg7974]

Coch is the man 🤣💪🍻

[@lucatriet575]

Cool video i was curious about that. as a airsofter myself i know that airsoft bbs can hurt pretty bad on nuckles the ears and if you hit a tooth thats gone but i thought if you shoot someone that close with sim that it would be break skin and might even be stuck under the skin. But there are field that allow more fps than standard. So airsoft bbs maybe more serious if played with 700-800 fps. (wich we played on our own field) pistols:330fps rifles:550 and snipers with 750fps and 0.32gram bbs.

[@Schrodingers_kid]

I don't think "Cost efficient" point was accurate. Yes, it may cost you less initially, but isn't simunition much more expensive than live ammo? It gets expensive quick, in addition to availability. Airsoft, on the other hand, is cheaper long term (airsoft is pretty cheap overall), will cause you less trouble, easy to obtain and while simunition being more powerful can be an upside, airsoft allows you to use less protection and feel less discomfort during training, as well as shrinking the amount of space you need to train (BBs from handguns will rarely fly over 120ft). Maybe you were talking in the context of training police, military etc., but I don't recall you mentioning this, so airsoft might be just slightly better for the sole reason of being overall easier for civilians to get their hands on.

[@fuswatenetke8295]

Instructor Coch, I hope he gets at least a beer as payment for his efforts :D

[@E33Tpro]

I assume you used green gas in the airsoft pistol but there are red gas and black gas as well that are more powerful, black gas being the strongest, red and black are used in colder weather because of the gas loosing power with lower temperatures, you can also choose CO2 driven airsoft pistols and or heavier bb's, I usually use 0.28 or 0.32 bb's with green gas in my Glock 18C replica, good times.😁

[@mikej3584]

I know that shit hurts haha! I've trained with soms but we had to use throat and balls Protection with a helmet and face shield running through live fire scenarios. Something like 450 fps? Haha! Give that man a beer!

[@justaguy4real]

Looks so real, are they that accurate, up close anyway? What i don't like is players will take chances they normally wouldn't if it was possible they'd die like in reality.

[@millsdurant]

The shirtless dude is probably his son in law

[@Tacti_cat]

"We're gonna go with the welt test" The intern 😳

[@reecewatson773]

You enjoyed that a little to much...

[@Solly-ow4od]

Must have missed this when it first came out…….That so called intern sounded a lot like Dorr? 🤔

[@Ogkrptonite]

that reaction lol lawd jesus

[@johnnyguitar6639]

You're not supposed to sound so happy,when you say you have to go again

[@verohimself]

Thank you for your service unpaid intern :)

[@scottfortune9016]

That's fun to watch. I think you should do more of that. Lol

[@Ajax-wo3gt]

HAHA! You're enjoying shooting your buddy too much, friend. 🤣

[@ganjamanrastaman420]

Lol! That’s a dedicated employee right there

[@kenariaaa4373]

I was abt to comment abt the mag drop problem with gbb Airsoft that is used in training but u mentioned it

[@lorrainebulaong8007]

Because this is a sport, not a gun for self protection.

[@jhill2042]

In all actuality would this not still be a discharging a firearm in a residential area when useing the non real gun.

[@johnmacias01]

Good training info, can u demo a force on force training class Thanks!

[@AUTOxMATIK]

The intern looks like he's familiar with this scenario

[@elite_7399]

😂😂😂😂😂 oh I felt that last shot! 😂😂

[@JustAllinOneResource]

I don't understand why they have to use ammo which can leave welts on people. Why not use something else for the round itself instead of soap? Isn't there a material which could be used which would not put your eye out and/or leave welts which could become infected?

[@overwatchdesigns8969]

Typical SEAL…if it doesn’t maim or kill you, it’s just fun and you laugh at the person in pain. Love it!

[@mrbojangles4155]

I think we need a test of every caliber of Simunition. For Science.

[@bryancombs9575]

The laugh got me.

[@burhanettinhasdemir4964]

The primary problem with force on force with airsoft replicas is, airsoft concept turns concealment into cover. You can simply hide behind a bush and not get hit in airsoft. But obviously with live fire you cannot do that.

[@Guido_XL]

Well, a heavy BB, shot from a sniper rifle or a good DMR, will penetrate foliage and neutralize your "cover". It's the branches that make even the heaviest BBs go ricochet. I also sometimes made use of ricochet, if I suspected an opponent behind a solid cover. That kind of thinking can be really fun. But, not all airsoft fields declare ricochet to be identical to a direct hit.

[@callsigndobermanairsoft4209]

everyone is doin airsoft now lol. flannel daddy, the talking balaclava, Polaner Tactical (im srry if i spelled that wrong) now tactical hyve. but yeah, airsoft guns can be a pain to repair as im learning rn with an m4 with a clunked out motor

[@rileyf8036]

You can get a nice ZCI motor for $30. Just drop a new one in instead of opening up the motor. Also if you hear a whining noise, it’s the motor height, so adjust the screw at the bottom of the grip.

[@dmoose7066]

Take it to your local shop, a motor swap should take 5 mins.

[@OA_DUCCNIPS]

If you took the airsoft gun apart you would see that within the internals including the they put small Lead weights to match that of a loaded handgun. Pretty stupid I know

[@TheBigern22]

give the man a beer or something lol

[@ph5915]

Kudos to your 'test dummy' 🤣 taking all that for the team.

[@velcro8299]

Unpaid service, baptism of pain🤣🤣🤣

[@nathant3897]

I think coch and the rest of us enjoyed that a lil too much 😂

[@lincolnpascual]

Coch is enjoying this a bit too much. Gotta say though, so would I.

[@mariebee3146]

Can use the simunition for self defense? Try to scare an intruder? I'm afraid of guns, but I would be comfortable using this.

[@tacticalhyvecadre1049]

No, we don’t recommend using training safe paint rounds for self defense. Are you more afraid of guns then you are intruders? Take a class Nina. If you can drive a car safely, you can shoot a gun safely. Thx for posting